Samantha Kate Christie was a Sunshine Coast University Hospital nurse when she tried to give a patient marijuana

A Sunshine Coast nurse of 10 years was acting as a ward’s team leader when she attempted to provide a patient with marijuana. FIND OUT MORE

Sunshine Coast University Nurse Samantha Kate Christie was placed on a $500 good behaviour bond for four months on Wednesday after she pleaded guilty in Caloundra Magistrates Court to dispensing a restricted drug to a patient. Picture: File.

A Sunshine Coast University Hospital nurse was acting out of sympathy when she supplied marijuana to a shark attack victim recovering in the hospital, a court has heard.

Samantha Kate Christie was placed on a $500 good behaviour bond for four months on Wednesday after she pleaded guilty in Caloundra Magistrates Court to dispensing a restricted drug.

Police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris said Christie intended to deliver 1000mg of marijuana oil to the patient before another nurse found the drug on a food tray on August 18.

Sergeant Grigoris said the patient, who was recovering from a shark attack, had told the nurse of ten years he was a regular user of cannabis to manage pain.

“She felt sympathetic towards him, she had a bottle of cannabis oil at her home so she therefore brought the cannabis oil into the hospital the following day with the intention of giving it to the patient,” she said.

Christie told police she was extremely remorseful for her actions.

Sergeant Grigoris said Christie was aware of the dangers of providing a patient with the drug.

Christie was working as the ward’s team leader at the time of the offence.

Solicitor Brendan Ryan described the offence as a “poorly thought out decision” and said Christie admitted her wrongdoing immediately after a nurse lifted the food tray lid to find the drug.

Mr Ryan said a number of stresses, including the death of her father in 2020, led to Christie being diagnosed with psychological burnout stress.

“She has fallen far from the position that she held because of this one occasion that she acted in a manner that was so off centre to her,” he said.

Mr Brendan said after doing a risk assessment the hospital allowed Christie to return to administration work, such as stacking shelves on October 5.

The 30-year-old, who was not allowed to have any interpersonal contact with patients, was given stress leave until that date.

“It was stupid, my client is paying for it at the present time,” he said.

“She has instructed me a lot of nursing staff are wondering why a nurse of her calibre is doing admin work packing shelves,” he said.

The court heard the outcome of the court proceedings would decide whether Christie was allowed to return to working with patients.

Mr Brendan asked Magistrate Catherine Benson to place Christie on a good behaviour bond.

Ms Benson said she understood the offence was out of character and highly unlikely to happen again.

She noted Christie had already endured significant consequences relating to her career and would be embarrassed and shameful of her actions.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Samantha Kate Christie was a Sunshine Coast University Hospital nurse when she tried to give a patient marijuana